republic of serbia request for an extension of the ... · milan gojkovic . coordinator for security...

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Republic of Serbia

Request for an extension of the deadline for completing the destruction

of antipersonnel mines in mined areas in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 1

of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer

of Antipersonnel Mines and on Their Destruction

Submitted to the Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation

Date 31 March 2018

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PREPARED FOR STATE PARTY

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Sector for Security Policy Milan Gojkovic Coordinator for Security and Arms Control Issues 24-26, Kneza Milosa St. Belgrade, Serbia Tel: +381 11 306 89 36 Fax: +381 11 306 89 27 E-mail: [email protected] Mine Action Centre of the Republic of Serbia Mrs Slađana Košutić Planning and International Cooperation Advisor 31, Vojvode Toze St. Belgrade, Serbia Tel: +381 11 30 45 280 Fax: +381 30 45 281 Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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Contents

Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 4

I. Executive Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

II. Detailed Narrative ......................................................................................................................... 10

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 10

2. Nature and extent of progress made: quantitative aspects ..................................................... 11

3. Nature and extent of progress made: qualitative aspects ........................................................ 15

4. Efforts undertaken to ensure the effective exclusion of civilians from mined areas ............... 22

5. Nature and extent of the remaining Article 5 challenge: quantitative aspects ........................ 23

6. Nature and extent of the remaining Article 5 challenge: qualitative aspects ........................... 25

7. Circumstances that impeded implementation during previous extension period ................... 26

8. Humanitarian, economic, social and environmental implications of remaining mined areas.. 27

III. The Remaining Challenge .......................................................................................................... 27

1. Amount of time being requested .............................................................................................. 27

2. Rationale for the time requested .............................................................................................. 27

3. Assumptions .............................................................................................................................. 28

4. Risk factor and mitigating response for the requested period ................................................. 28

IV. Detail work plan for the period of the requested extension .................................................... 29

1. Institutional, human resource and material capacity available to implement the work plan .. 29

2. Detailed Work Plan: Qualitative information ............................................................................ 30

3. Financial / Institutional Capacities ............................................................................................ 34

4. Assumptions and Risks .................................................................................... 34_Toc505336325

V. Annexes ..................................................................................................................................... 35

1. Table showing areas known and suspected to contain groups of anti-personnel mines as of

1 March 2018, and estimated date of completion............................................................................ 35

2. Maps ............................................................................................................................................. 35

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Abbreviations

APMBC Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention ATM Anti-Tank Mines AP KiM Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija CHA Confirmed Hazardous Areas IMAS International Mine Action Standards ITF ITF Enhancing Human Security MRE Mine Risk Education NMAS National Mine Action Standards SHA Suspect Hazardous Areas SMAC Mine Action Centre of the Republic of Serbia OVPBM Liberation Army of Preševo, Bujanovac and Medvedja QA Quality Assurance QC Quality Control SOP Standard Operating Procedure UXO Unexploded Explosive Ordnance

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I. Executive Summary

1. The former State Union of Serbia and Montenegro ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, on 18 September 2003. The Convention entered into force on 1 March 2004. The continuity to the Convention in relation to the Republic of Serbia was established in accordance with Article 60 of the Charter of the State Union. Serbia is fully committed to the implementation of its obligations under the Convention. In accordance with Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention, Serbia had an obligation to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in minefield areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible, but not later than ten years after the entry into force of the Convention (1 March 2014). 2. At the 13

th Meeting of the States Parties of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling,

Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction, which was held in the period 2-6 December 2013, Geneva, Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Serbia was granted a 5 year extension of the deadline for fulfilment of its obligations under Article 5 of the Convention, which is 1 March 2019. 3. In its initial 10 year period for the fulfilment of the Article 5 obligations, 2004-2014, the problem related to contamination by landmines and the progress of Serbia in response to its Article 5 challenge is documented in detail in its first extension request. 4. Since the 13th Meeting in December 2013, when the Republic of Serbia was granted a 5 year extension of the deadline for fulfilment of its obligations under Article 5 of the Convention, mine contaminated area totalled 3,301,196 square meters in the Municipalities of Bujanovac and Preševo, of which 1,221,196 square meters defined as confirmed hazardous area and envisaged to be subject to mine clearance operations, and 2,080,000 square meters mine suspected area envisaged to be subject to an intensive survey in order to confirm or reject suspicion of the existence of group of mines and to determine confirmed hazardous area. The area proven not to contain mines was to be cancelled from the category of suspected area in accordance with the IMAS regulation.

Table of remaining challenge 2013

Municipality Village

Size of

the Risk

Area

(square

meters)

Number

of the

confirmed

hazardous

areas

Size of the

Suspected

Area

(square

meters)

Number of

the

Suspected

Areas

Total

number of

areas

Size of

the area

Bujanovac

Dobrosin

150.947 1 1 150.947

70.196 1 1 70.196

93.511 1 1 93.511

206.665 1 1 206.665

970.000 2 2 970.000

Lučani 36.000 1 1 36.000

Končulj

690.000 2 2 690.000

148.464 1 1 148.464

100.003 1 1 100.003

49.520 1 1 49.520

Turija 131.274 1 1 131.274

Mali 52.000 2 2 52.000

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Trnovac

Djordjevac 65.000 1 1 65.000

Ravno

Bučje

16.000 1 1 16.000

Preševo*

Cerevajka

165.000 1 1 165.000

105.616 1 1 105.616

106.000 1 1 106.000

Pečeno 130.000 1 1 130.000

Gornja

Šušaja

15.000 1 1 15.000

Total 1,221,196 10 2,080,000 12 22 3,301,196

*In 2014, the clearance operations completed in the Preševo Municipality and this Municipality can be declared mine free. 5. Since the previous request, clearance of the area of 270,616 square metres was completed in 2014 in the Municipality of Preševo. The funds have been donated, through ITF Enhancing Human Security, by the US State Department. After conducting demining in the Preševo Municipality, during which only several pieces of UXO were discovered, as well as after a re-survey of cleared and surrounding suspected area, the SMAC excluded the surrounding mine suspected area totalling 251,000 square meters from the category of mine suspected. Thus, in the Municipality of Preševo, according to available data, Serbia can declare completion of the municipality. There is no more confirmed hazardous area, as well as mine suspected area.

In 2015, one project task developed by the SMAC “An integrated approach to the mine risk land release in the territory of the Municipality of Bujanovac” was completed. The project area totalled 1,179,000 square meters, of which 413,915 square meters was subject to manual clearance in combination with detection by mine detection dogs, while the larger part of the area was land released as the area without confirmed mine risk. The funds have been provided by the Serbian Government, matched, through ITF, by the US State Department donation.

In 2017, one technical survey project totalling 275,800 square meters in the Bujanovac Municipality

was completed. The funds have been provided by the Serbian Government, matched, through ITF, by the US

State Department donation.

Table showing progress against milestones 2013-2019, and newly surveyed areas.

Year Projected milestones Cleared area

(square metres)

Cancelled area

(square metres)

Total area released (square metres)

Number of anti-

personnel mines

destroyed

Number of other

explosive items

destroyed

Size of newly identified/ suspect hazardous areas

Survey Clearance

2013 832,000 489,276 / / / / /

2014 606,000 572,116 270,616 251,000 521,616 / 4

2015 642,000 414,668 413,915 765,085 1,179,000 14 1 335,500

2016 256,185 / / / / / 694,260

2017 247,000 275,800 / 275,800 3 1

Total 960,331 1,016,085 1,976,416 17 6 1,029,760

6. There are a number of circumstances that have impeded Serbia from complying with its 5 year period of first extension request. Particular issues faced by Serbia are as follows:

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- Lack of funds: Funding from donors for mine action activities have severely diminished through the years, with donors preference to provide funds for cluster munitions clearance;

- Unregistered mine contaminated areas (groups of mines): The remaining areas contaminated by mines did not have registries and had not been planted in specific patterns, which aggravated survey and clearance efforts;

- Climactic conditions: Contaminated areas are inaccessible during some periods of the year causing operation delays. Consequently, most of the suspected areas are not appropriate for the use of mine detection dogs or machinery;

- Contamination other than mines: Specificity and complexity of the problem presents the fact that apart from mines still remaining in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, Serbia also encounters with numerous challenges related to clearance of the areas contaminated with unexploded cluster munitions, air bombs – rockets and other UXO. All these unexploded ordnance are either remaining as a result of the 1999 bombing, or are caused by an explosion and fire in a military depot, or are remaining from previous wars.

7. The remaining mine contamination presents a severe socioeconomic impact on the municipality of Bujanovac. This municipality is the most underdeveloped municipality in Serbia. Mine contaminated areas affect safety of people. Presence of mines hinders safe exploitation of woods, development of cattle breeding and mushroom picking, which happen to be the main source of income of locals and in that way mines additionally impoverish them. In addition, road communications are blocked, environment affected, and fire risks increased. 8. As of March 2018, in the Republic of Serbia there are 12 areas suspected to contain groups of anti-personnel mines totalling 2,354,540 square metres in the Municipality of Bujanovac. 9. The Republic of Serbia’s achievements regarding the fulfillment of its obligation under Article 5 have been significant so far. Our aim is to fulfill the remaining obligations within the short timescale. At the same time, we are facing a number of difficulties, and the most important is the lack of adequate financial resources. The unpredictability of secure financial resourcing presents the main obstacle. Furthermore, simultaneously with mine clearance, we have to deal with the clearance of areas contaminated with cluster munitions, air bombs-rockets and other UXO, since they also block significant resources of Serbia and its development and infrastructural projects.

Having in mind all the aspects of this issue, especially inadequate financial recourses, the remaining area to be cleared and its characteristics, the Republic of Serbia is requesting extension of the deadline for fulfilling its mine clearance obligations under the Convention. Requested Period of Extension

In this context, the Republic of Serbia is requesting extension of the deadline under Article 5 for a period of 4 years. We believe that a 4 year period is a realistic period in which Serbia could fulfill its obligations under Article 5 of the Convention until 2023.

Table: Summary of areas known or suspected to contain anti-personnel mines as of March 2018

Municipality Village Number of areas known to contain anti-personnel mines

Number of areas suspected to contain anti-personnel mines

Total number of areas known or suspected to contain anti-personnel mines

Amount of area known to contain anti-personnel mines(square metres)

Amount of area suspected to contain anti-personnel mines(square metres)

Total amount of area known or suspected to contain anti-personnel mines(square metres)

Bujanovac

Ravno Bučje

/ 3 3* / 575,020* 575,020*

Končulj

/ 5 5 / 1,181,820 1,181,820

Dobrosin

/ 1 1 / 248,000 248,000

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Đorđevac

/ 1 1 / 145,100 145,100

Lučane

/ 1 1 / 73,200 73,200

Turija

/ 1 1 / 131,400 131,400

Total 6 / 12 12 / 2,354,540 2,354,540

16. Demining milestones: The area of 2,354,540 square meters will be land released as follows: 2018: An area of 649,000 meters, which will include:

- Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Ravno Bučje and Djordjevac; 2019: An area of 462,400 square meters, which will include: - Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj, Lučane and Turija; 2020: An area of 467,880 square meters, which will include:

- Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj; 2021: An area of 269,240 square meters, which will include:

1. Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj and Dobrosin; 2022: An area of 291,400 square meters, which will include:


- Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj and Ravno Bučje. Clearance operations will follow upon securing of funding from donors or other sources of funding.

Priority will be to demine those areas which directly affect the local population. However, sometimes donors themselves, depending on availability and amount of their funds, influence the choice of the areas which will be demined first.

Demining of groups of mines in the Municipality of Bujanovac (2018-2023)

Year Municipality

Village Estimated mine

suspected area to

be subject to

technical

survey/clearance

(square meters)

Source of funding and Amount*

2018

Bujanovac

Ravno Bučje

and Djordjevac

649,000 National Budget (200,000 ЕUR) and

international donations matched through ITF

(400,000 EUR)*

2019

Končulj,

Lučane and

Turija



or other sources of funding (300,000 EUR) *

2020

Končulj 467,880 National Budget (200,000 ЕUR) and


or other sources of funding (300,000 EUR)*

2021

Končulj and

Dobrosin

269,240

National Budget (100,000 ЕUR) and



2022 Končulj National Budget (100,000 ЕUR) and


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*Please note that at the time of writing this draft, we do not have confirmation by potential donors of the funds available for Serbia in

the period to follow.

In addition to funds from national budget (900,000 EUR), we estimate that we would need around 1,600,000 EUR secured by

international donors.

17. Despite the difficult economic situation in the country and modest funds from the National Budget, we will endeavor to secure funding of demining either by submitting projects to ITF applying for their funding, or lobbying with other foreign donors to provide funds for implementation of projects. The funds from the Serbian State Budget will be provided to support the on-going work of the SMAC – salaries of the staff, running costs (electricity, water, heating), office and consumption material costs, fuel costs, maintenance of vehicles, costs of the SMAC staff insurance – as well as survey activities, development of adequate project tasks for demining/clearance of locations confirmed to be contaminated by mines, cluster munitions and other UXO, follow-up of the implementation of project tasks and conduct of demining quality assurance and quality control. However, in 2015, the funds (100,000 EUR) for demining operations have been allocated from the Serbian State Budget for the first time. Also, the funds have been allocated in 2016. This trend has been continued on an annual basis and in 2018 the Serbian Government allocated the double amount of funds for demining operations, and we expect the Serbian Government to continue to allocate the funds for demining operations throughout the requested extension period. According to some rough estimations, in addition to funds from national budget (900,000 EUR), we estimate that we would need around 1,600,000 EUR secured by international donors. Assumptions and Risks 18. The dynamics of implementation of our demining projects is affected by provision of funds, that is, if the funds for implementation of our projects are not provided, our plan will be directly affected and hard to achieve. On the other hand, if more funds are provided, the work plan could be implemented in a shorter period.

291,400 or other sources of funding (200,000 EUR) *

2023

Končulj and

Ravno Bučje

214,620




Total

2,354,540 900,000 ЕUR + and international donations

matched through ITF or other sources of

funding 1,600,000 EUR*

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II.Detailed Narrative

1. Introduction Serbia’s deadline was 1 March 2014. On 27 March 2013, Serbia submitted a request for

extension that was granted at the 13th Meeting of the States Parties, held in Geneva, 2-6 December 2013.

The Republic of Serbia was granted a 5 year extension of the deadline for fulfilment of its obligations under Article 5 of the Convention, which is 1 March 2019.

In their request Serbia indicated that their remaining challenge totalled 3,301,196 square metres in the Municipalities of Bujanovac and Preševo, of which 1,221,196 square metres defined as confirmed hazardous area and envisaged to be subject to mine clearance operations, and 2,080,000 square metres of suspected hazardous area envisaged to be subject to an intensive survey in order to confirm or reject suspicion of the existence of group of mines and to determine confirmed hazardous area. The area proven not to contain mines was to be cancelled from the category of suspected area in accordance with the IMAS regulation.

Furthermore, as we emphasized that, Serbia, at the same time, had to deal with clearance of areas contaminated with cluster munitions, air bombs – rockets and other UXO, since they also block substantial resources and hinder implementation of development and infrastructure projects.

In addition to the landmines, the Republic of Serbia suffers from additional contamination by cluster munitions contamination, and by Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) as follows:

- It is suspected that the area of 2,498,539 square meters has been still contaminated with cluster munitions resulting from 1999 bombing.

- It is assumed that since the 1999 bombing, around 150 air bombs – rockets weighing up to 930 kg are located throughout the country in locations in the ground at a depth of up to 20 m, as well as in the Sava River and the Danube River.

- It is suspected that after a fire and explosion in the military depot in Paraćin (19 October 2006) outside of military objects, in an area of around 2,500,000 square meters, there are various types of UXO. Furthermore, in former military depots in Kraljevo, Vranje, Novi Pazar, Leskovac, Kragujevac, an area of around 16,000,000 square meters has been contaminated with various types of UXO following explosions.

- On the border with Romania, in the Djerdap gorge on the Danube River, in 1944, German war vessels were sunken, containing large quantities of anti-ship mines and other explosive ordnance, which now pose a threat to people, ships and the environment. In 2006, in this location, a survey was conducted establishing that in the territory of the Republic of Serbia 23 war vessels were sunken, 4 of which contain anti-ship mines and other UXO.

Type and origin of the overall contamination in the Republic of Serbia

Cluster Munitions

Мines AirBombs - Rockets

Inner Waterways Other UXO

1999 bombing From the period 2000-2001 during conflict situations along the administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija

1999 bombing 1999 bombing and World War II

Former military depot explosions

~ 2.500.000 м2

~ 2.300.000 м2

~ 150 locations suspected to contain air bombs

12 locations on the Danube and Sava rivers

~ 18.500.000 м2

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In granting the request the States Parties indicated the following:

- Serbia should cover part of the demining cost and that demonstrating national

ownership in this manner could help facility cooperation and assistance effort; - All survey activities should be completed by the end of 2015, which should result in

Serbia having a more accurate understanding of its implementation challenge. Furthermore, Serbia should submit by 1 March 2016 an updated detailed work plan for the remaining period covered by the extension.

Accordingly, in 2015, the funds (100,000 EUR) for demining operations have been allocated

from the Serbian State Budget for the first time. SMAC lobbied with the U.S. Department of State’s

Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement to match these national funds through ITF Enhancing

Human Security. Provision of these matched funds enabled implementation of one SMAC project.

In March 2016, Serbia submitted updated work plan for the remaining period covered by the extension. At that time, remaining mine contamination totaled 1,936,080 square meters.

Serbia intended to address the challenge in the manner that the 2016 and forthcoming national funds should be matched with international donations, so that demining operations, by the use of the methods such as cancellation through survey, manual demining, mechanical demining and canine demining can be continued. However, since the international donations were not provided in 2016, namely, donors insisted on providing funds solely for cluster munitions clearance, and the 2017 matched funds were not sufficient, the implementation of our demining projects was affected and resulted in delay to meet the 2019 deadline.

In addition, Serbia faced with the fact that the remaining areas contaminated by groups of mines of an unknown type and number having no registries and no specific emplacement pattern aggravated demining efforts, namely survey results were subject to alterations. Namely, at the request of the Emergency Management Headquarters of the Bujanovac Municipality and subsequent findings of the existence of new areas contaminated with groups of mines and increased risk for local population, the SMAC conducted non-technical survey of these new areas throughout 2016 and early 2017, which resulted in an increase of suspected hazardous area for 694,260 square meters in comparison to SHA in early 2016, and totalling 2,630,340 square meters in early 2017.

2. Nature and extent of progress made: quantitative aspects

Since the 13th Meeting in December 2013, clearance of the area of 270,616 square meters, covered by two project tasks developed by the SMAC, was completed in the Municipality of Preševo, in 2014.

After conducting demining in the Preševo Municipality, during which only several pieces of UXO were discovered, as well as after a re-survey of cleared and surrounding suspected area, the SMAC excluded the surrounding mine suspected area totalling 251,000 square meters from the category of mine suspected. Thus, in the Municipality of Preševo, according to available data, there is no more confirmed hazardous area, as well as mine suspected area.

Based on the results of а demining project in Bujanovac in 2012 when on a relatively large area (75,987 square meters) a relatively small number of mines (4 AP mines) was discovered, as well as on the results of survey operations and subsequent statements of the local population, in 2015, in order to achieve effectiveness and cost efficiency, the SMAC decided to reclassify the area initially categorized as confirmed hazardous area (defined as such according to then available relevant indicators) and suspected hazardous area into mine suspected hazardous area (3,115,080 square meters in the Municipality of Bujanovac) to be treated with an integrated approach that included

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survey, manual demining, detection by mine detection dogs. The reclassification, based on an additional check up on the field, also included a slight increase of SHA for 335,500 square meters.

In 2015, the SMAC project “An integrated approach to the mine risk land release in the territory of the Municipality of Bujanovac”, which included survey, manual demining and detection by mine detection dogs, was completed. The project area totalled 1,179,000 square meters, of which 413,915 square meters was subject to manual clearance in combination with detection by mine detection dogs, while the larger part of the area was land released as the area without confirmed mine risk. During the clearance 14 AP mines and 1 UXO were found and safely destroyed. Please note that the low number of discovered mines is explained by the fact that Serbia is dealing with unregistered mine contaminated areas (groups of mines). Namely, the remaining areas contaminated by mines did not have registries and had not been planted in specific patterns, which aggravated survey and clearance efforts.

In 2016, the funds (100,000 EUR) for demining operations were allocated from the Serbian State Budget, which SMAC intended to match with donor funds and use for the implementation of our demining projects. However, due to the fact that there were no available matching funds in 2016, our demining projects could not be implemented. However, our relatively modest funds were used to solve cluster munitions related issues in the Municipality of Bujanovac.

At the request of the Emergency Management Headquarters of the Bujanovac Municipality and subsequent findings of the existence of new areas contaminated with groups of mines and increased risk for local population, the SMAC conducted non-technical survey of these new areas throughout 2016 and early 2017, which resulted in an increase of suspected hazardous area for 694,260 square meters in comparison to SHA in early 2016, and totalling 2,630,340 square meters in early 2017.

As of December 2017, one project totaling 275,800 square meters (Breznica Village, Bujanovac Municipality) has been completed, with 3 AP mines and 1 UXO found and safely destroyed. Table showing Remaining challenge 2013

Municipality Village

Size of the Risk

Area (square

meters)

Number of the

Risk areas

Size of the

Suspected Area

(square meters)

Number of the

Suspected Areas

Bujanovac

Dobrosin

150.947 1

70.196 1

93.511 1

206.665 1

970.000 2

Lučani 36.000 1

Končulj

690.000 2

148.464 1

100.003 1

49.520 1

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Turija 131.274 1

Mali

Trnovac

52.000 2

Djordjevac 65.000 1

Ravno Bučje 16.000 1

Preševo

Cerevajka

165.000 1

105.616 1

106.000 1

Pečeno 130.000 1

Gornja

Šušaja

15.000 1

Total 1,221,196 10 2,080,000 12

Table: Areas contaminated with groups of mines released during the previous extension request (March 2013 up to March 2018)

Municipality Cancelled area (square metres)

Reduced area

(square metres)

Cleared area (square metres)


Number of anti-

personnel mines

destroyed

Number of other

explosive items

destroyed

Preševo 251,000 / 270,616 521,616 / 4

Bujanovac 765,085 / 413,915 1,179,000 14 1

Bujanovac / / 275,800 275,800 3 1

Total 1,016,085 / 960,331 1,976,416 17 6

The following table highlights the total mine clearance progress to date:

Year Cleared area

(square metres)

Cancelled area

(square metres)


Number of anti-personnel

mines destroyed

Number of other

explosive items

destroyed

Size of newly

identified/ suspect

hazardous areas

2013 / / / / / 2014 270,616 251,000 521,616 / 4 2015 413,915 765,085 1,179,000 14 1 335,500 2016 / / / / / 694,260 2017 275,800 / 275,800 3 1 Total 960,331 1,016,085 1,976,416 17 6 1,029,760

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Areas containing cluster munitions

In the period March 2013 – March 2018, cluster munitions have been cleared from the area of 5,009,602 square meters, detecting and destroying in the process a total of 508 pieces of cluster munitions and 104 UXO. Cleared land has been returned to safely use. Table: Areas contaminated with cluster munitions released during the previous extension period (March 2013 up to March 2018)

Municipality Cleared area (square meters)

Number of cluster munitions destroyed

Number of other explosive items

destroyed

Kuršumlija 131,609 6 1

Užice 890,273 5 7

Brus 149,612 1 4

Knić 251,942 3 /

Niš 54,168 1 /

Kraljevo 167,453 11 /

Bujanovac 1,065,977 127 79

Stara Pazova 390,569 1 /

Gadžin Han 130,747 34 /

Sjenica 1,714,790 310 13

Raška 62,462 9 /

Total 5,009,602 508 104

The following table highlights the total cluster munitions clearance progress to date:

Year Cleared area (square metres)

Number of cluster munitions destroyed

Number of other explosive items

destroyed

2013 2,567,748 154 89

2014 281,407 35 /

2015 1,828,715 234 12

2016 154,612 9 2 2017 177,120 76 1 Total 5,009,602 508 104

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Other contamination

In addition to progress in clearing mined and cluster munitions areas, Serbia has addressed a number of different areas affected by other UXO (former military depot related contamination), including the following: Table: Areas contaminated with UXO (former military depot related contamination) released during the previous extension period up (March 2013 up to March 2018)

Municipality Cleared area (square meters)

Number of unexploded ordnance destroyed

Paraćin 2,833,041 2,102

Total 2,833,041 2,102

The following table highlights the total former military depot related contamination clearance progress to date:

Year Cleared area (square metres)

Number of UXO destroyed

2013 400,355 1,286

2014 418,860 287

2015 577,584 324

2016 661,042 91

2017 775,200 114

Total 2,833,041 2,102

3. Nature and extent of progress made: qualitative aspects

Resources made available to achieve the progress (national and international inputs) National As regards national inputs, in 2015, the funds (100,000 EUR) for demining operations have been

allocated from the Serbian State Budget for the first time, which corresponded to the decision of the States Parties in granting the request, when it was noted that Serbia should cover part of the demining cost and that demonstrating national ownership in such a manner could help facility cooperation and assistance efforts.

In 2016, the funds (100,000 EUR) for demining operations were allocated from the Serbian State Budget, which SMAC intended to match with donor funds and use for the implementation of our demining projects. However, due to the fact that there were no available donor matching funds in 2016, our demining projects could not be implemented. However, our relatively modest funds were used to solve cluster munitions related issues in the Municipality of Bujanovac.

In 2017, the funds (100,000 EUR) for demining operations in the Municipality of Bujanovac have also been allocated from the Serbian State Budget.

International As regards international inputs, in 2014, the funds in the amount of 624.412,00 US$ for demining

projects in Preševo have been donated, through ITF, by the US State Department. In 2015, the funds in the amount of 277.778,00 US$ have been donated, through ITF, by the US

State Department, which were matched with the 2015 national input (100,000 EUR).

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In 2017, the US State Department, through ITF, donated 283.330,00 US$, which were matched by the 2017 national input (100,000 EUR).

The funds from the Serbian State Budget have been also provided to support the ongoing work

of the SMAC – salaries of the staff, running costs (electricity, water, heating), office and consumption material costs, fuel costs, maintenance of vehicles, costs of the SMAC staff insurance – as well as survey activities, development of adequate project tasks for demining/clearance of locations confirmed to be contaminated by mines, cluster munitions and other UXO, follow-up of the implementation of project tasks and conduct of demining quality assurance and quality control.

On an annual basis, from the Serbian State Budget is allocated around 150,000.00 EUR for the work of the SMAC.

As regards the cluster munitions clearance, in the period 2013-2017, the funds in the amount of

2,053,949 US$ provided by the US State Department and Slovenia through ITF, one project was funded by SMATSA Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services, whereas several cluster munitions clearance projects and the UXO clearance projects were funded by the Russian Federation.

National demining structure

In order to respond to contamination, the Mine Action Centre (SMAC) was established in 2002, initially as a federal body within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 2003 when, through a decision by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, it became the republic body, first as the Service of the Government and later on as a separate organization. The scope of the work of the SMAC has been determined by the Law on Ministries. The funds for its work are allocated from the Serbian state budget.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopts the Work Plan of the SMAC, as well as the Annual Report on the work of the SMAC. The Director is appointed by the Government and has the status of a civil servant holding position. A new director of SMAC was appointed by the Serbian government in the autumn of 2015. In 2016, restructuring resulted in a greater proportion of operational posts more related to survey, project development, and quality control. Apart from the Director, the SMAC has 7 clerks, as follows: senior advisor for supervision works and demining coordination, senior advisor for project development, senior advisor for quality control of demining, advisor for planning and international cooperation, advisor for survey, advisor for general affairs, accounting and financial documentation processing officer.

Year National Input for Demining Operations International Input for Demining Operations

2014. / 624,412 US$

2015. 100,000 EUR 277,778 US$

2016. 100,000 EUR /

2017. 100,000 EUR 283,330 US$

Total 300,000 EUR 1,185,520 US$

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The SMAC does not directly conduct demining, but conducts expert works in the field of

humanitarian demining related to the following:

- coordination of demining/clearance in the Republic of Serbia; - preparation of regulation in the field of demining/clearance; - collecting, processing and storing of data and keeping records on the areas

contaminated with mines, cluster munitions and other UXO, on demined/cleared areas;

- survey of areas suspected to be contaminated with mines, cluster munitions or other UXO;

- development of demining plans and projects and following their implementation; - making of demining project tasks; - issuing approvals to companies and other organizations for the conduct of

demining/clearance operations; - approving execution plans of a contracted company or organization for a particular

area and issuing a certificate that the particular area has been demined/cleared of mines, cluster munitions and other UXO;

- quality control of demining operations; - introducing population to mine/UXO risk; participation in training of personnel for a

conduct of surveys and demining/clearance; - following application of international contracts and standards in the field of

demining, and; - achieving international cooperation, as well as other works determined by the Law.

Demining operations in accordance with the SMAC projects and IMAS conduct specialized

companies and other organizations registered for such works, and which are technically equipped and employ adequate staff, and as such accredited by the Ministry of Interior – Sector for Emergency Management.

As of 1 January 2014, according to a Government Decree on Protection against Unexploded Ordnance, the Sector for Emergency Management, under the Ministry of Interior is responsible for accrediting demining operators. Previously, the SMAC was responsible for accrediting demining operators.

The Ministry of Interior issues accreditation valid for a period of one year. In 2018, valid accreditation was processed for 14 companies/organizations – 7 from Serbia, 4 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2 from Croatia, and 1 from Russian Federation.

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Tender procedures for the selection of contractors for implementation of humanitarian demining /clearance projects funded from international donations through ITF is carried out by the ITF. Selection of contractors for demining operations that are funded in other manner conducts an investor and based on projects made by the SMAC. Later on the SMAC does an oversight of implementation of these projects, QA & QC, etc.

Destruction of mines, cluster munitions and other UXO in Serbia is done by the Sector for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia or companies and other organizations which are authorized for such works.

•Victim Assistance

The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs is the competent authority in the Government of the Republic of Serbia in charge of ensuring protection, rights and financial support to disabled civilian veterans, family members of disabled civilian veterans and family members of civilian war victims. This Ministry has been designated, from November 2012, as the focal point of victim assistance. Until 2012, the health aspect of these matters was dealt with by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, War Veterans and Social Affairs initiated in December

2013, the setting up of a Government Working Group tasked to deal with questions and problems

relating to victims assistance, i.e. implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use,

Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa

Convention).

On February 15th 2015, the Government adopted the Decision on establishment of the Work

group on application of the Ottawa Convention.

In line with the actions of the Maputo Action Plan-namely, actions to assess the needs of mine

victims, the availability and gaps in services, requirements for disability, health education,

employment, development and poverty reduction activities and with objectives to be realized

through the implementation of national policies, plans and legal frameworks-tasks of the Working

Group shall be as follows:

- Proposing measures to enhance the position of the victims of anti-personal mines; - Proposing measures to enhance the legislative framework for the protection of the anti-

personal mine victims; - Monitoring alignment with the applicable legislation regulating the protection of the APM

victims with international legislation and national law; - Proposing special programmes and measures to promote and make the APM victims capable

for public life; - Cooperation with the association of the APM victims and civil society organizations involved

in enhancement of the position of the APM victims; - Cooperation with relevant institutions from abroad, international organizations and national

working groups of the equivalent or similar profile with view to experience and good practice sharing;

- Monitoring progress regarding the provision of assistance to the APM victims within wider national plans and legal framework;

- Mapping all the existing services.

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• Methodologies for addressing the Article 5 challenge

The following methods have been employed in Serbia to release areas known or suspected to contain mines:

- Cancellation through survey - Manual demining - Mechanical demining - Canine demining

In Serbia, an initial survey which includes collection of data and analysis of available documentation on mine emplacement is employed, as well as a general survey which follows after an analysis of previously collected data, conditions in the field, statements by local population, hunters, foresters, people dealing with exploitation of wood, representatives of Civil Protection and Police, amongst others. One significant indicator has been data on accidents that have occurred. Unfortunately, in Serbia there is no systematically and centrally kept database on mine accidents and mine victims.

The use of the above methods has enabled the defining of risk area for which the SMAC develops corresponding project tasks to commence demining operations. Critical to this is the cancellation of areas registered as mine suspected areas that through a survey are confirmed not to contain mines (in accordance with the International Mine Action Standards -IMAS).

Demining has been conducted in accordance with the IMAS. Search of the terrain on completed projects tasks has been done by a manual method at the depth of 20 cm, of which on 4 project tasks, apart from a manual method, on 1 project dogs were used. The productivity per a deminer, depending on mine situation, terrain configuration, land characteristics and vegetation, was in 2 clearance projects up to 100 square meters, whereas on 2 technical survey projects up to 70 m2 .

The SMAC as well as its partner operators carry out a number of efforts to ensure the quality of tasks carried out in mine, cluster munitions and other UXO affected areas. The SMAC has conducted quality control operations on all completed demining projects to date. Upon completion of a demining project, the SMAC awards a Certificate of completion indicating that demining operations have been conducted in accordance with the IMAS. Quality assurance and control is carried out at all levels of operations and could be summarised in the following activities:

- Execution plan review: Once an organization has been selected through the tender to carry out clearance in a specific site, it is required that the organization submits an Execution Plan to the SMAC which provides details concerning who will carry out clearance, with what means, protective equipment, in what manner, with what medical team and equipment, how will it organize the site, deadlines of when it intends to begin demining in a specific location, among other issues. Once the SMAC approves the organization’s execution plan, it gives permission to the organization to begin work on the task.

- Ad hoc controls: During the execution of work, the SMAC conducts ad hoc visits to the site to ensure the proper arrangement and marking of a site, functioning of devises for search of terrain and detection of mines and UXO, whether and how daily records are kept on the performance and progress for each deminer, among other. The SMAC pays special attention to the manner of work of deminers, whether they act in accordance with operation and safety procedures requested by the project documentation.

- Final control: After receiving information from the contractor that the operations on a concrete site have been concluded, the SMAC commences the final control through an analysis of all previous completed controls, documentation on found mines and UXO and their destruction, documentation on executed works etc. Along with the SMAC, the contractor signs minutes with representatives of future land users (most relevant representative of local authorities) by which they confirm that they are

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familiar with borders of demined areas. The contractor and the SMAC sign minute to handover the site which has been demined in accordance with a concrete project task, which identifies the exact location, project, contractor, period of works, used methods and findings. Finally, the SMAC issues a certificate on completed demining of a concrete location in which, apart from stating relevant data, is stated that demining has been done in accordance with the IMAS, which guarantees clearance of 99.65%.

Final control and handover for a demining project site in Breznica Village, Bujanovac Municipality


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• Humanitarian and socio-economic progress enablement of demining operations

Demining of mine contaminated areas in the Municipalities of Bujanovac and Preševo has had a number of qualitative benefits including the following:

- Clearance has contributed and will contribute to the safety of the local population, particularly children and teachers of a school located nearby mined location;

- Conditions for safe exploitation of forest, picking of mushrooms and development of cattle breeding have been created;

Safe exploitation of forest, picking of mushrooms and cattle breeding in mine free Municipality of Preševo

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- Environment protection and protection against fire have been significantly increased;

- Given that these municipalities are the most underdeveloped municipalities in Serbia, for the purpose of their development and prevention of migration of their inhabitants due to economic reasons, demining will enable implementation of development projects, such as for example construction of solar plants, development of wood industry, namely exploitation and processing of wood.

Areas containing cluster munitions, air bombs – rockets, other UXO

Despite the complexity of mine related problems Serbia is facing, significant results have been achieved in the field of cluster munitions clearance, and other UXO demining including:

- Industrial objects have been repaired on cleared areas;

- Residential buildings constructed;

- Užice airport runway reconstructed and other objects constructed on it; - Ski cables reconstructed and new ones constructed and ski paths constructed;

- Reconstruction and construction of electricity transmission network has been enabled.

4. Efforts undertaken to ensure the effective exclusion of civilians from mined areas

The whole area suspected to be contaminated with various types of mines has been visibly marked with “STOP UXO” signs in Serbian and Albanian languages, given that it is an area with multi-ethnic population. Areas contaminated with cluster munitions, air bombs – rockets and other UXO, have been also marked correspondingly. Marking is conducted by the SMAC and within its regular activities the SMAC periodically visits contaminated locations making sure that these signs remain emplaced.

Suspected Hazardous Area in Končulj Village, Bujanovac Municipality

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Suspected Hazardous Area in Dobrosin Village, Bujanovac Municipality

Locals are being informed about demining activities through a number of means and media. Mine risk education was conducted in schools and local communities. In accordance with the IMAS, during demining operations, evacuation of people from houses, shops and other communal locations located within the zone of demining works is conducted. Suspension of traffic on the roads within the zone of demining operations is conducted, too. In relation to that, the SMAC coordinates activities with local authorities, school authorities and other relevant state bodies (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport), local media means in communities where demining operations are conducted.

There have been no new mine victims in the period between the submission of the previous request and the present day.

5. Nature and extent of the remaining Article 5 challenge: quantitative aspects

As of March 2018, there are 12 areas in the Republic of Serbia suspected to contain anti-personnel mines totalling 2,354,540 square metres. Areas suspected to contain anti-personnel mines remain in 6 villages in the Municipality of Bujanovac as follows:

Table: Summary of areas known or suspected to contain anti-personnel mines as of March 2018

Municipality Village Number of areas known to contain anti-personnel mines

Number of areas suspected to contain anti-personnel mines

Total number of areas known or suspected to contain anti-personnel mines

Amount of area known to contain anti-personnel mines(square metres)

Amount of area suspected to contain anti-personnel mines(square metres)

Total amount of area known or suspected to contain anti-personnel mines(square metres)

Ravno Bučje

/ 3 3* / 575,020* 575,020*

/ 5 5 / 1,181,820 1,181,820

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Bujanovac

Končulj

Dobrosin

/ 1 1 / 248,000 248,000

Đorđevac

/ 1 1 / 145,100 145,100

Lučane

/ 1 1 / 73,200 73,200

Turija

/ 1 1 / 131,400 131,400

Total 6 / 12 12 / 2,354,540 2,354,540 *At the time of writing this document, one technical survey project totaling 113,600 square meters (Ravno Bučje Village, Bujanovac Municipality) is in progress.

Other Contamination

As of March 2018, there are 6 municipalities in the Republic of Serbia suspected to contain

cluster munitions totalling 2,498,539 square metres. The areas suspected to contain cluster munitions are as follows:

Table: Summary of areas known or suspected to contain cluster munitions as of March 2018

Municipality

Village Number of areas known to contain cluster munitions

Number of areas suspected to contain cluster munitions

Total number of areas known or suspected to contain cluster munitions

Amount of area known to contain cluster munitions (square metres)

Amount of area suspected to contain cluster munitions (square metres)

Total amount of area known or suspected to contain cluster munitions (square metres)

Užice

Bioska / 1 1 / 585,268 585,268

Raška

Lisina

/ 1 1 / 190,359 190,359

Sjenica Čedovo 2 2 4 89,450 74,474 163,924

Sjenica Vapa 1 2 3 338,416 94,496 432,912

Tutin Istočni Mojstir

/ 1 1 / 514,682 514,682

Niš Medoševac

/ 1 1 / 119,344 119,344

Bujanovac

Borovac 2 1 3 210,881 281,169 492,050

Total 7 5 9 14 638,747 1,859,792 2,498,539

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- It is assumed that since the 1999 bombing, around 150 air bombs – rockets weighing up to 930 kg are located throughout the country in locations in the ground at a depth of up to 20 m, as well as in the Sava River and the Danube River.

- It is suspected that after a fire and explosion in the military depot in Paraćin (19

October 2006) outside of military objects, in an area of around 2,500,000 square meters, there are various types of UXO. Furthermore, in former military depots in Kraljevo, Vranje, Novi Pazar, Kragujevac and Leskovac, an area of around 16,000,000 square meters has been contaminated with various types of UXO following explosions.

- On the border with Romania, in the Djerdap gorge on the Danube River, in 1944,

German war vessels were sunk, containing large quantities of anti-ship mines and other explosive ordnance, which now pose a threat to people, ships and the environment. In 2006, in this location, a survey was conducted establishing that in the territory of the Republic of Serbia 23 war vessels were sunken, 4 of which contain anti-ship mines and other UXO.

6. Nature and extent of the remaining Article 5 challenge: qualitative aspects

The remaining contamination by mines is located on mostly hilly and mountainous terrain. This terrain/land is of an utmost importance to the population of nearby villages from the aspect of cattle breeding, exploitation of woods, mushroom picking, and tobacco production. Additionally, suspected mined areas are in an immediate vicinity of settlements, thus posing a constant threat to safety of local population.

These groups of mines have been emplaced without being registered and without a specific pattern.

Mine action operations will also face challenges due to the fact that operations cannot be carried out throughout the whole year, but only when weather conditions permit it, namely in accordance with the IMAS, the temperature for demining works to be carried out needs to be over 5C0, and in case of Serbia it is the period March – early December.

Furthermore, most of the suspected area is not appropriate for the use of mine detection dogs or machinery.

Suspected Hazardous Area in Končulj Village, Bujanovac Municipality

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Suspected Hazardous Area in Ravno Bučje Village, Bujanovac Municipality

Suspected Hazardous Area in Djordjevac Village, Bujanovac Municipality

7. Circumstances that impeded implementation during previous extension period

There are a number of circumstances that present challenges for Serbia in complying with its Article 5 deadline. Particular issues faced by Serbia are as follows:

- Lack of donor funds: Funding from donors for mine action activities has severely diminished through the years. Furthermore, certain donors insisting on funding solely cluster munitions clearance and UXO clearance

- Unregistered mine contaminated areas (groups of mines): The remaining areas contaminated by mines do not have registries and have not been planted in specific patterns, which aggravates demining efforts, namely survey results are subject to alterations.

- Climactic conditions: Contaminated areas are inaccessible during some periods of the year causing operation delays; most of the suspected area is not appropriate for the use of mine detection dogs or machinery.

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- Contamination other than mines: Specificity and complexity of the problem presents the fact that apart from mines still remaining in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, Serbia also encounters with numerous challenges related to clearance of the areas contaminated with unexploded cluster munitions, air bombs – rockets and other UXO. All these unexploded ordnance are either remaining as a result of the 1999 bombing, or are caused by an explosion and fire in a military depot, or are remaining from previous wars.

8. Humanitarian, economic, social and environmental implications of remaining mined areas

The remaining mine contamination presents a severe socioeconomic impact on the municipality of Bujanovac. Municipality of Bujanovac, where the remaining contamination by mines is located, is characterized by population of mixed national background (Serbs, Albanians, Roma, etc.). It is one of the most underdeveloped municipalities in Serbia. The territory of the Municipality covers the area of 461 km2. There are 43 302 inhabitants, namely 94 inhabitants per km2. Since the remaining contamination by mines is located on mostly hilly and mountainous terrain which is of an utmost importance to the population of nearby villages from the aspect of cattle breeding, exploitation of woods, mushroom picking, and tobacco production, suspected hazardous areas being in an immediate vicinity of settlements pose a constant threat to safety of local population.

Since exploitation of woods, development of cattle breeding and mushroom picking, happen to be the main source of income of locals, presence of mines additionally impoverish them. In addition, road communications are blocked, environment affected, and fire risks increased.

Presence of mines prevents construction of solar plants, primary tobacco processing facilities, etc, as well as the development of the region through an increased flow of people, goods, services and opening of new work positions. Demining would prevent trend of locals moving out from this region, which, in the past years, have been massively moving to either bigger towns or cities in Serbia, or in Western Europe countries.

III. The Remaining Challenge

1. Amount of time being requested

Serbia’s current deadline for completing their Article 5 obligations is 1 March 2019. However, Serbia is in no position to meet their deadline and will need a 4 year extension period to complete their obligations. Accordingly, Serbia requests their deadline to be extended to 1 March 2023.

2. Rationale for the time requested

As of 1 March 2018, there are 12 areas in the Republic of Serbia suspected to contain groups of anti-personnel mines totalling 2,354,540 square metres.

Starting from the fact that due to difficult economic situation, demining/clearance operations in Serbia are funded mostly from international donations, and given that there is an evident trend of a reduction of financial participation of international donors for demining/clearance operations in the South East European countries, including Serbia, and in a situation when some donors are exclusively interested in funding clearance of cluster munitions that still, as well as air bombs – rockets, contaminate the territory of the Republic of Serbia, but also for clearance of other UXO caused by fire and explosion in military depots, we believe that a 4 year period is a realistic period in which Serbia could fulfill its obligations, that is Serbia could be cleared of mines by 2023.

However, if funds are available and at disposal, Serbia would be able to finish its obligations before this period.

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3. Assumptions

If the funds for demining operations are provided, in particular, international donations, Serbia intends, by the use of methods such as cancelation through survey, manual demining, mechanical demining (where applicable) to complete clearance in Serbia well before their 2023 deadline.

4. Risk factor and mitigating response for the requested period

The remaining contamination by mines is located on mostly hilly and mountainous terrain. This terrain/land is of an utmost importance to the population of nearby villages from the aspect of cattle breeding, exploitation of woods, mushroom picking, and tobacco production. Additionally, suspected mined areas are in an immediate vicinity of settlements, thus posing a constant threat to safety of local population.


Mine action operations will also face challenges due to the fact that operations cannot be carried out throughout the whole year, but only when weather conditions permit it, namely in accordance with the IMAS, the temperature for demining works to be carried out needs to be over 5C0, and in case of Serbia it is the period March – early December.


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IV. Detail work plan for the period of the requested extension

1. Institutional, human resource and material capacity available to implement the work plan

The SMAC is a state authority in charge of coordination and managing of projects in the field of humanitarian demining. It employs 8 clerks.

The SMAC does not directly conduct demining. Demining operations in accordance with the SMAC project tasks and IMAS conduct and will

conduct specialized companies and other organizations registered for such works, and which are technically equipped and employ adequate staff, and as such accredited by the Ministry of Interior – Sector for Emergency Management.

As of 1 January 2014, according to a Government Decree on Protection against Unexploded Ordnance, the Sector for Emergency Management, under the Ministry of Interior is responsible for accrediting demining operators.

The Ministry of Interior issues accreditation valid for a period of one year. In 2018, valid accreditation was processed for 14 companies/organizations – 7 from Serbia, 4 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2 from Croatia, and 1 from Russian Federation.

Tender procedures for the selection of contractors for implementation of humanitarian demining projects funded from international donations through the ITF conducts the ITF.

Selection of contractors for demining operations that are funded in other manner conducts an investor.

Namely, if and when the funds are provided, commercial companies and/or non -governmental organizations accredited by the relevant Serbian authorities, which will be selected on public tenders for selection of contractors, will carry out demining operations in accordance with the project and QA and QC of the SMAC, which will issue a clearance completion certificate.

Destruction of mines and other unexploded ordnance in Serbia is done by the Sector for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia or companies and other organizations which are authorized for such works.

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2. Detailed Work Plan: Qualitative information In 2018, demining operations will be conducted for the projects developed by the SMAC

totaling 649,000 square meters. One project task totaling 113,600 square meters in the Ravno Bučje Village, Bujanovac Municipality, is in progress. This area is close to the settlement where the locals abandoned their houses and stopped cultivating their land due to fear of mines. Demining will contribute to an increase of safety of local population, return to their homes and provide possibilities for safe exploitation of forest, cattle grazing and picking of mushrooms, which are one of main sources of an income of local population.

Demining operations of two areas in the Djordjevac Village, Bujanovac Municipality, totaling 535,300 square meters, will follow upon securing of international funds. At the time of writing this document, only national funds are available for these two project tasks.

For these areas, technical survey will be used. It is conducted on the basis of an analysis of general survey, after data analysis and information collected by previously conducted general survey with a primary goal:

-verification of accuracy and authenticity of documents, data and information on mines and UXO contamination in cases when the general survey methods could not confirm accuracy and authenticity of stated documents, data and information. Namely, it will include analysis of data collected during previously surveys, conditions in the field, statements by local population, hunters, foresters, and people dealing with exploitation of wood, representatives of Civil Protection and Police, amongst others. One significant indicator has been data on accidents that have occurred.

The use of the above methods will enable the defining of risk area for which the SMAC has

developed corresponding clearance project tasks. Critical to this is the cancellation of areas registered as mine suspected areas that through survey are confirmed not to contain mines (in accordance with the IMAS).

Demining operations in the period of the requested extension will follow upon securing of funding from donors or other sources of funding.

Namely, if and when the funds are provided, commercial companies and/or non - governmental organizations accredited by the SMAC, which will be selected on public tenders for selection of contractors, will carry out demining works on defined risk areas, in accordance with the project tasks, and QA and QC of the SMAC.

Priority will be to demine those areas which directly affect the local population. However, sometimes donors themselves, depending on availability and amount of their funds, influence the choice of the areas which will be demined first.

As it was the case in previous periods, when Serbia managed to complete clearance of minefields, which were located in one part of its territory (Municipality of Šid) and to commence demining of newly discovered mine contaminated areas (Municipalities of Bujanovac and Preševo), in the forthcoming period during a survey, demining, QA and QC the IMAS will be applied.

Demining will be conducted primarily by manual method. As it was previously mentioned, most of the suspected area is not appropriate for the use of

mine detection dogs or machinery. Serbia preference is manual demining, nevertheless, Serbia is

willing to conduct technical survey, where appropriate.

Despite the difficult economic situation in the country and modest funds from the National Budget, we will endeavor to secure funding of demining either by submitting projects to ITF applying for their funding, or lobbying with other foreign donors to provide funds for implementation of projects. The dynamics of implementation of our demining projects is affected by provision of funds, that is if the funds for implementation of our projects are not provided, our plan will be directly

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affected and hard to achieve. On the other hand, if more funds are provided, the work plan could be implemented in shorter period.

At the same time, Serbia has to deal with clearance of areas contaminated with cluster munitions, air bombs – rockets and other UXO, since they also block substantial resources and hinder implementation of development and infrastructure projects. For the implementation of these clearance operations, significant funds are also required. Demining milestones: The area of 2,354,540 square meters will be land released as follows: 2018: An area of 649,000 meters, which will include:

- Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Ravno Bučje and Djordjevac;

2019: An area of 462,400 square meters, which will include: - Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj, Lučane and Turija; 2020: An area of 467,880 square meters, which will include:

- Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj;

2021: An area of 269,240 square meters, which will include: - Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj and Dobrosin;

2022: An area of 291,400 square meters, which will include:


- Municipality of Bujanovac, Villages of Končulj and Ravno Bučje.

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Demining of groups of mines in the Municipality of Bujanovac (2018-2023)

1 *Please note that at the time of writing this draft, we do not have confirmation by potential donors of the

funds available for Serbia in the period to follow.

In addition to funds from national budget (900,000 EUR), we estimate that we would need around 1,600,000

EUR secured by international donors.

Year Municipality

Village Estimated mine

suspected area to

be subject to

technical

survey/clearance

(square meters)


2018

Bujanovac

Ravno Bučje

and

Djordjevac


international donations matched

through ITF (400,000 EUR)*1

2019

Končulj,

Lučane and

Turija



through ITF or other sources of

funding (300,000 EUR) *

2020

Končulj 467,880 National Budget (200,000 ЕUR) and



funding (300,000 EUR)*

2021

Končulj and

Dobrosin

269,240





2022

Končulj

291,400




funding (200,000 EUR) *

2023

Končulj and

Ravno Bučje

214,620





Total

2,354,540 900,000 ЕUR + and international

donations matched through ITF or

other sources of funding 1,600,000

EUR*

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Cluster Munitions Clearance and UXO Clearance (2018-2023)

*Please note that at the time of writing this document, we do not have confirmation by potential donors of the

funds secured in the period to follow.

Year Municipality

Estimated mine

suspected area to be

subject to technical

survey/clearance

(square meters)


2018 Tutin 514,682

International donations or other

sources of funding* Sjenica 427,866

Paraćin/Ćuprija 606,000

2019

Bujanovac 492,050


sources of funding Novi Pazar 363,208

Kraljevo 1,806,803

Paraćin/Ćuprija 2,024,000

2020

Niš 119,344 International donations or other

sources of funding Kraljevo 2,449,166

Rakovica 1,818,525

2021

Raška 190,359


sources of funding

Leskovac 1,668,134

Kragujevac 592,400

Užice 585,268

2022 Vranje 3,491,222 International donations or other

sources of funding

2023 Vranje 3,491,222 International donations or other

sources of funding

Total

20,640,249 International donations or other

sources of funding around

20,000,000 EUR

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3. Financial / Institutional Capacities

Since 2015, the funds for demining operations have been allocated from the Serbian State Budget and this trend has been continued on an annual basis and we expect the Serbian Government to continue to allocate the funds for demining operations in the future.

In 2018, the Serbian Government allocated the double amount of the funds for demining operations (200.000 EUR) and we expect the funds for demining operations to be allocated by the Serbian Government throughout the requested extension period, too. This proves Serbia’s strong commitment to full implementation of the Ottawa Convention. We are aware that the national funds are not sufficient to completely resolve the mine problem, therefore, at the same time, we urge donors to support our efforts throughout the requested extension period by providing substantial funds for demining operations.

Please note that at the time of writing this draft, we do not have confirmation by potential donors of the funds available for Serbia in the period to follow, either for mine clearance or cluster munitions clearance.

In addition to funds from national budget (900,000 EUR), we estimate that we would need around 1,600,000 EUR secured by international donors.

Price of demining of 1sqm of mine contaminated area ranges from 0.8 to 1.3 EUR depending on land characteristics and terrain configuration. Please note that the prices are the matter of the market, namely the SMAC cannot influence the prices the bidders offer at tenders.

The funds from the Serbian State Budget will be provided to support the on-going work of the SMAC – salaries of the staff, running costs (electricity, water, heating), office and consumption material costs, fuel costs, maintenance of vehicles, costs of the SMAC staff insurance – as well as survey activities, development of adequate project tasks for demining/clearance of locations confirmed to be contaminated by mines, cluster munitions and other UXO, follow-up of the implementation of project tasks and conduct of demining quality assurance and quality control.

In addition to funds to deal with mine contamination, Serbia also needs funds to address the contamination related to unexploded cluster munitions, air bombs – rockets and other UXO. We estimate that in the forthcoming four year period we will need additional 20 million EUR to clear these areas.

In addition to approaching potential donors, SMAC will continue to raise awareness of the funding problem lobbying with state authorities, public enterprises and local authorities to fund clearance from contaminated areas for which they are directly interested.

4. Assumptions and Risks

If the funds for demining operations are provided, in particular international donations, Serbia intends, by the use of methods such as cancelation through survey, manual demining, mechanical demining (where applicable) to complete clearance in Serbia well before their 2023 deadline.

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V. Annexes

1. Table showing areas known and suspected to contain groups of anti-personnel mines as of

1 March 2018, and estimated date of completion

2. Map 1 and Map 2 of cleared and suspected mine contaminated areas in the Bujanovac Municipality and Preševo Municipality

3. Map 3 of the overall problem related to mines, cluster munitions and UXO in the territory

of the Republic of Serbia

37

Annex I: Areas known and suspected to contain anti-personnel mines as of 1March 2018, and estimated date of completion

Municipality Village Longitude Latitude Area known or suspected to contain anti-personnel mines (square meters)

Type and quantity of anti-personnel mines

Estimated period when mines were emplaced

Estimated date of

completion (year-end)

Bujanovac

Ravno Bučje

21047’16’’E 42

035’22’’ N 575,020

Groups of mines of unknown type and quantity

2000-2001 2018-2023

Končulj

21041’16.08’’E 42

028’27.84’’ N 1,181,820


2000-2001 2019-2023

Dobrosin

21038’10’’E 42

026’58’’ N 248,000


2000-2001 2021

Đorđevac

21046’10’’E 42

028’50’’ N 145,100


2000-2001 2018

Lučane

21042’9’’E 42

026’29.4’’ N 73,200


2000-2001 2019

Turija

21043’4.8’’E 42

027’18’’ N 131,400


2000-2001 2019

Total 6 2,354,540

Legend

cleared areas

suspected areas

Map Scale 1:200.000

BUJANOVAC

PREŠEVO

Republic of SerbiaMine Action Centre

Cleared and suspected areas in theMunicipalities of Bujanovac

and Preševo

Legend

cleared areas

suspected areas

Map Scale 1:200.000

Republic of SerbiaMine Action Centre

Cleared and suspected areas in theMunicipalities of Bujanovac

and Preševo

BEOGRAD

NiŠ

BUJANOVAC

PREŠEVO

March 2018

3

2.000.000

11.081.075

13.500.000

4.500.000

- Locations suspected to be contaminated withair bombs - rockets (around 150 suspected locations on land)

- Locations contaminated or suspected to be contaminated with clustermunitions (bombs) - area around 3.000.000 sqm

- Locations contaminated with various types of UXO onland - area over 1 .500.000 sqm8

- Danube - Djerdap Gorge - Sunken war vessels with ammunitionfrom the WW2 - 23 vessels

- Locations suspected to be contaminated with groups of mines,area around 2.600.000 sqm

- Demined minefields - 5.906.791 sqm

- Demined groups of mines - .3 sqm960 31- Mine Risk Released Area - 1. .0 sqm016 85

- Cleared Cluster munitions - sqm11.258.195

- Disposed air bombs - rockets - (6 underwater, 1 land)

- Cleared various UXO - on land sqm5.500.000underwater aruond 250.000 sqm

Legend:

Note: Data on contaminated and suspected areasdo not refer to land and used by Army

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

MINE ACTION CENTRE

MINE/UXO SITUATION IN SERBIA

2.498.539

2.354.540

republic of serbia request for an extension of the ... · milan gojkovic . coordinator for security...

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